Observations

Description

Frustules are cylindrical and form colonies. Valves are 5-16 µm in diameter, with a mantle height of 13-22 µm. The ratio of mantle height to valve diameter is >1. The mantle has straight sides, but sides may be curved in smaller diameter cells. Rows of mantle areolae are straight, 6-11 in 10 µm, with 5-10 very large blocky or oblong areolae in 10 µm. In smaller diameter cells areolae may be disorganized and more widely spaced. The height of the collum varies between 1/3 and 1/10 of the mantle height. The valve face is usually covered by areolae, but in some specimens there are areolae only at the periphery of the valve face. Linking spines are present. The ringleiste is solid and located on the border between the collum and the part of the mantle containing areolae.

Links & ID's

Index Nominum Algarum (INA)

California Academy of Sciences (CAS)

North American Diatom Ecological Database (NADED)

NADED ID: 10003

Autecology Discussion

When found in abundance, Aulacoseira canadensis is associated with freshwater lacustrine deposits of Miocene age, and none of the preserved material that we have examined contains protoplasm or plastids (Bahls et al. 2009). We therefore conclude that this taxon is probably extinct. Geological processes have redistributed fossil material throughout much of the interior Northwest (map), where occasional cells may appear in a wide variety of habitats.

Images

Distribution of Aulacoseira canadensis in western North America. “Q” marks the type locality at Quesnel, British Columbia. Other letters represent known fossil deposits.